... And the first thing she gets asked is, "So, is the feng shui in here good?".

It happens all the time, at family gatherings, dinner parties, book club meetings, school volunteer planning sessions, birthday parties, business events and so on. I love that the topic comes up, but I suspect my replies are pretty disappointing!

Usually my answer is polite and vague, "your home is beautiful", "I love how open this room is", or "it's so comfortable in here". Occasionally, if I'm on my game, I'll point out how a chair or desk could be placed better for more support. On rare occasions I'll toss it back to the homeowner with "How is it working for you? Do you have challenges with the space? Are there areas of life that you're struggling with right now?" In most cases, the conversation ends there - honestly, who wants to get into their problems in the middle of a room full of people!? Most often I'll beg out, saying "I've gotta be in a totally different mindset for feng shui", which honestly is the closest to the truth.

In many ways I think I miss the boat on being able to talk up what I do and why it's important. I've been given a stage, a wide opening, and many new ears to share some feng shui wisdom with ... and I play it down. But the truth is, it's not an easy answer. There's so much that goes into assessing the feng shui of a space! It takes more than a quick look around to come up with the answer. In fact, to do it right, I need to engage all parts of myself: body, mind and spirit. To understand how energy is flowing means to make a connection with the space. My background in energy healing helps me do this with ease, but not on the fly and especially not in the middle of a crowd. I need to be in "the zone".

On top of that, much of my analysis would come from what the owner tells me is going on in the space and in their life. Their answers to questions I ask tell me where to look and what to look for. The best feng shui improvements come when everything is laid out in the open - the good, the bad and the ugly. Whether that's clutter that collects in a certain spot in the house, maintenance issues, legal troubles, creative blocks or stagnating relationships, it has to be seen in order to understand it and shift the energy around it. But not by everyone at the party!

Finally, as a guest I usually only get to see a small part of the space, but feng shui considers much more than just the social areas of a home. The neighborhood, nearby structures, the shape and health of the property, the foot print of the building, ALL the areas inside the building (even closets, basements and garages), and all plumbing and utilities are considered ... in addition to the choice of decor and placement of furniture! Without all that information behind my answer, all you're really getting is my opinion on aesthetics and hospitality rather than a professional feng shui thumbs up!

Don't let this insight stop you from asking that question if you see me out and about ... I welcome the opportunity to practice a more clarified response. But please don't be disappointed if I'm vague:-) Feng shui is so much more than I can fit into a social setting sound bite! Now you understand why!!

Want to learn more about Feng Shui? Join me for one of these great events in March. Some of them are free:-)

Thurs. March 9th - Feng Shui Tips for the Home – FREE at Holliston Public Library

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Author

Kerri is the founder of Feng Shui Pathways (formerly Holistic Living Resources). Using a combination of tools including Feng Shui, Aromatherapy, Coaching, Organizing and Space Clearing she works with clients to create spaces that are comfortable, functional, supportive and inspiring. Kerri offers workshops and is available for speaking engagements on the topic of Feng Shui.